A/N: This chapter is all Daryl and his POV. Enjoy!
Preacher's Daughter
Chapter 36: Daddy Dixon
The lodge wasn't so much of a lodge as it was very large log cabin by the lake. B.J. gets the baby out the truck as Eddie opens the door. We both spot the broken window in the door, Eddie shooting me a startled stare.
"Daryl … you go around back and I'll go in this way. B.J. stay here with the baby till we make sure it's clear to go in." I grab my crossbow, Eddie reaching for his shotgun in his truck.
I run around back, finding the backdoor jarred open. Easing my back against the wall, I walk in with the crossbow raised. I hear Eddie running towards me, the shotgun cocking back.
Sliding into the kitchen I see some dishes in the sink and an open can of baked beans on the counter. Once I'm sure the room is clear, I make my way towards the front of the cabin. Eddie yells clear as I get to the living room.
"Looks like someone's been squatting in my dad's cabin. I haven't been up to the lake in a year or more, not sure how long they could have been here." He picks up a half smoked cigar from an ashtray, a look of frustration taking over.
Bobbi Jo comes in with the baby; instantly going about making the cabin our home. She cleans up the mess left behind, taking off the dust covers that still remained. Eddie asks me to go out to the lake with him, wanting to make sure their fishing boat was still there.
"Will you be okay if I go out to the lake with Eddie?" I slide my hunting knife in her hand as her big beautiful smile takes my breath.
"I'm good Dixon. Go on and help Eddie." She slides her fingers over my cheek, her lips planting a hot kiss there.
The boat was gone and part of the dock was wrecked. Eddie starts kicking some of the wood in the water, cursing so loudly I was sure that B.J. could hear him. "Holy fuck! Really, they stole the fuckin boat. Maybe you and B.J. shouldn't stay here until we figure out who's been up here."
"Looks like they're gone man and they won't be comin back. They probably took what they wanted from the cabin, stayed the night and took the boat. Anyway … I got this. They come back they'll be getting a bolt in the head." Eddie looks up to me, nodding his head. I was sure he wasn't gonna let this go anytime soon.
"Tell ya what. We'll go to town in the mornin and get some stuff to fix the door, window and dock. I'll stay with y'all tonight and tomorrow we'll get everythang patched up." He pats me on the back, his eyes still scanning around.
The dock looked like it was a good place to fish and maybe Eddie and me could do some fishing when summer came. I could see me and my gurls hanging out here too.
Going back to the cabin, we can hear B.J. singing to the top of her lungs. I walk up to the front door, her ass wiggling as she dusts the mantle over the fireplace off. Eddie clears his throat, ruining my moment.
"You want some fries to go with that shake Bobbi Jo?" I knew his comment was about to earn him a nasty look from my feisty redhead.
"No fries … just a slice of Dixon." She grins at me, my face feeling red hot.
Eddie goes out back and starts the generator, giving Bobbi Jo enough electricity to make dinner. It's not much, but that gurl could make a meal out of nothing. I was grateful for this time alone with her, away from all the prying eyes and whispers at the farm.
After she feeds and changes Beryl, she curls up to me. I lay the baby on my chest, my hand covering her small back. "You sure about this, cause if you ain't we can go back."
"I have you, Beryl and a home, that's all I'll ever need. You need to stop worryin Dixon and just let things be. My family will come around in a week or so. I can go to the farm whenever I want, but this … this is home." Her arm drapes over my waist as she nuzzles into my neck. The smell of honeysuckles in her hair always tames the fear and doubt in my heart.
I wake to Beryl lying next to me and Bobbi Jo singing in the shower. Eddie knocks on the door, popping his head in. "Hey Dixon … you ready to go. Need to make those repairs today and I need to report the stolen boat."
Picking up Beryl, I make my way to the bathroom door. "Hey B.J. you gonna be much longer?"
I can hear the shower water still running as she shouts back to me. "Not much longer. You goin somewhere?"
"I'm heading into town with Eddie to get supplies." The water stops, the steam rolling out as she opens the door.
She looks so damn good in her towel and dripping wet hair that I wish we were alone. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, Beryl yawning in my arms. Bobbi Jo reaches for the baby, giving me a good morning kiss. "I'm goin into to town myself later. We need groceries and I need to see Ann."
I spy the yellow and black backpack that B.J. had been using as a diaper bag and decide to take my daughter with me. "I'll take Beryl with me. I need to go check in with Jeff at the garage and we won't be long at the hardware store."
"You sure, you really haven't dealt with the baby on your own before." I give her a quick kiss, picking up the backpack.
"She's my daughter too, B.J. I can handle her … don't worry." I wasn't sure if it was me declaring I got this or the fact I walked out of the room with Beryl screaming.
I get changed, sliding on my vest. Beryl sits sucking on her pacifier, her little denim dress making her look too damn cute. Bobbi Jo comes out of the kitchen, placing a bottle in the backpack. "I'll be back in a few hours and if you need me, I'll be over at Ann's. Be careful today Dixon … I love you."
She tucks a blanket over our baby girl before giving me a very long, very deep kiss goodbye. "You keep doin that and neither one of us is leavin."
She smacks my ass as she picks up the truck keys, twisting her ass as she walks out. "Damn." I say as Eddie walks in the room.
"For a preacher's daughter, she sure can make a man have sinful thoughts." Eddie gawks at my gurl, his eyes clearing on her backside.
I smack him on the back of the head, stopping his thoughts cold. I grab the baby and head to his truck.
I load my baby gurl in the truck, her little face beaming a smile. "Hey there beautiful, yer spendin the day with dad."
"You know the day is gonna come when some guy …" Eddie shuts up fast when I look up at him, every inch of my face like stone.
Pulling up to Jeff's garage, I see Merle in one of the bays. Jeff walks up to the truck, wiping his hands on a rag. "Hey Dixon … you here to see your brother?"
"Nah, just checkin on thangs and makin sure you can do without me for a few days." Jeff looks over at Beryl with a big goofy smile.
"Well … if it ain't my baby brother. How did ya get free of the ball and chain?" Merle walks up behind Jeff, pushing him to the side.
"Thought fer sure you and Sam be long gone by now." I flinch as he opens back truck door. He takes his greasy finger and rubs it on Beryl's cheek.
"Nope … leavin next week. I got thangs to do and people to see first Darlene. So you babysittiin today? How did you manage to get little bit away from mama bear?" Beryl wakes up, her big blue eyes opening wide.
I get out of the truck, moving Merle away from my daughter. Taking her out of the carrier, I hold her up to my shoulder. "Bobbi Jo had thangs to do today, so I'm watchin Beryl. Is there a reason yer over her bustin my balls Merle or it just for shits and giggles?"
"You know what yer problem is little brother … no fuckin sense of humor. I guess B.J. has yer balls in a vise grip these days. Like I said to ya before … come find me when yer done playin house." He rubs the top of Beryl's head, giving me that coy grin that always made me uneasy.
Jeff tells me to take as long as I need to get settled in our new place, giving me a shop key to come in when I want. It means a lot that Jeff trusts me, but it also makes me uncomfortable. Bobbi Jo trusts me, depends on me to do right by her and our little gurl, I really couldn't handle much more trust right now.
Eddie and I finish getting the supplies, Beryl getting really grouchy on the way back to the cabin. I have Eddie pull over so I can check on her. "What's wrong baby gurl? You hungry?"
I give her the bottle B.J. had made, her cries becoming a full on banshee scream. I take a breath, knowing if she's not hungry, it means it's diaper time. "Okay Dixon … you can do this."
Eddie takes the backpack, tossing me a diaper and the whips. "Hey Daryl … bet ya never thought in a million years you'd be cleanin up shit."
I smirk back at him, laying Beryl on the blanket. "That's where you'd be wrong Thomas … I've been cleanin up Merle's shit for years."
With a fresh diaper, Beryl calms down and takes her bottle. Eddie turns on the radio, signing low to the Tom Waits song filtering out.
"You think Bobbi Jo will be home when we get back? I sure could use somethin to eat." Eddie rubs his belly, extending it out.
"She might be. She was gonna to get food and see yer maw. Maybe the electric will be on too." Beryl lets out a burp so loud, I'm not sure it came out of her.
We pull up to the gate, finding the lock broke and the chain gone. I look over to Eddie and he can read the panic on my face. He punches the gas pedal to the floor, the truck flying up the graveled road.
He barely slows down before I jump out of the truck. "Say with Beryl!"
My heart quickens when I see Bobbi Jo's truck in the driveway, the front door open. Eddie stands outside the truck, shotgun in hand.
I pull my hunting knife from my belt, inching into the living room. The place is trashed, the furniture flipped over, groceries on the floor and no sign of B.J.
Going into the kitchen I see a blood trail, a smear of blood leading to the back door. "B.J.!"
My heart had never pounded so hard, the sound of it echoing in my ears. I run out behind the cabin, following the bloody smears towards the lake. I fall to my knees when I see the blood trail end and one of Bobbi Jo's shoes floating in the water.